About The Author

Abby lived in Vegas for more than five years, most recently as editor in chief of Vegas magazine. She has wined and dined at some of the swankiest joints in town. Now, she's sharing which ones make her top list. Lucky You!

The Cromwell: Bye Bye Bill’s, Hello Boutique Luxury!

The best things come in the smallest packages? The Strip’s first stand-alone boutique hotel packs a punch, with Giada De Laurentiis’ first restaurant and a rooftop nightclub you have to see to believe.

The prime corner smack in the middle of the Strip that’s been hiding under scaffolding finally has a deserving glittery occupant. The Cromwell is open for business – and it’s been an instant hit.

Photo Credit: Erik Kabik

Visiting for the first time? You must stop at the lobby bar, Bound, on the way in. Its hand-crafted cocktails are like little pieces of art. Mixologist Salvatore Calebrese curated the menu, which includes a collection of alcoholic espresso drinks served in a chilled Moka pot. The bar is low-lit with gold accents, very classy and romantic. Unique cocktails include the Breakfast Martini, topped with orange marmalade, and the Bunny Bubbles, made with raspberry puree and fresh pomegranate.

Other hotspots include the stunning rooftop Drai’s Beachclub/Nightclub, which boasts killer views of the Strip and a wild party scene for both day and night, and a restaurant by TV star Giada De Laurentiis. So far, reservations have been practically impossible to get, thanks to rave reviews of her Italian fare and a luxe antipasti bar. The pint-sized chef happens to be the first woman celebrity chef to open a restaurant on the Strip, so she gets extra points for taking on the boys’ club. Lastly, Interlude lounge offers a nightlife scene that lies somewhere between the low-key Bound and the chaos of Drai’s.

The Cromwell is a fairly small boutique hotel, especially in the shadow of the goliaths Caesars Palace and Bellagio across the street. Having just 188 rooms allows for amenities not possible in the larger resorts, such as coffee and tea service on every floor and straightening irons in the rooms to ensure every woman can go out looking glamorous enough for the bright lights of Vegas. One hiccup: the valet. Don’t even think about driving to the Cromwell – the line sometimes stretches a block long.

Photo Credit: Erik Kabik

The rooms range from standard rooms to the 2,550-square-foot, six-bedroom Cromwell suite. Like many of the new hotels and renovations on the Strip, the suites vie for the feel of a big-city loft, with comfy sofas and full-sized refrigerators. Some even have wet bars that can be filled according to your tastes prior to arrival, plus pool tables and pinball machines. The décor is Parisian, including French phrases scripted on the walls, with black-and-white tiled showers and custom artwork. Dogs up to 50 pounds can even be accommodated in designated PetStay rooms.

This fabulous new boutique hotel is a culmination of a $185 million renovation of the classic Bill’s Gamblin’ Hall (renamed from Barbary Coast) that wasn’t without scandal. The hotel was originally supposed to re-open with much fanfare as a Gansevort, a chic hotel brand out of NYC. After that fell through, Caesars Entertainment, which owns the property, settled on the Cromwell, to considerable success.

In a town that embraces “new and shiny,” the Cromwell is a great addition to the Strip’s fabulous collection of hotels.